KWFT Wins Banking Award for Housing Microfinance Product

Habitat for Humanity’s partner for the Building Assets Unlocking Access project – Kenya Women Microfinance Trust (KWFT) took home top honors at the at the 2017 Banker Africa awards having been declared the “Best Microfinance Institution in East Africa” and the “Best Microfinance Institution in Kenya.” KWFT was also awarded at the 2017 'Think Business Banking Awards' having won “Overall Best Leading Microfinance Bank in Kenya 2017”. The bank was lauded for its innovative, prudent and stable banking solutions with additional awards for “Best Microfinance Bank in Agriculture and Livestock Finance” and “Best Microfinance Bank in Product Innovation (1st Runners-Up)” for the Nyumba Smart Loan.

The Nyumba Smart Loan, developed in partnership with the Terwilliger Center for Innovation in Shelter and Habitat for Humanity International, is a financial product that enables clients to acquire quality building materials for home construction or improvements with affordable housing support services. The product’s primary goal is to provide housing microfinance for low-income earners in Kenya.

Partnering with KWFT, Habitat for Humanity and the Terwilliger Center for Innovation and Shelter, are working towards building a stable and sustainable affordable housing sector, affording many a “decent place to live.” KWFT has disbursed in excess of 36,500 Nyumba Smart incremental housing products, positioning itself as leaders in housing microfinance across East Africa.

The award is recognition of KWFT’s continued commitment to providing affordable, innovative and customer-centric housing solutions to the low-income households.